Review: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Dartford's Orchard Theatre, Monday, December 12

by Rachel Hovenden

"Go and find something disgustingly hideous to do."

"Right, I will go and join the Liberal Democrats."

And with quips like that, what could go wrong?

Not a lot, as it turned out. It may have been former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe's first venture into panto, but I thoroughly enjoyed the show.

For Strictly Come Dancing fans who had come out to watch Craig Revel Horwood square up to Ann , there's a good dose of music and jokes.

Even Strictly judge Len Goodman makes an appearance.

Horwood as the Wicked Queen, Shinead Byrne as Snow White, and Nick Weir as Muddles (Snow White's best friend) really made the show with their acting, singing and dancing.

And Ann Widdecombe was just, well, Ann Widdecombe.

Horwood's dresses and make up were wonderfully over the top and despite my best attempts to embarrass my other half with my enthusiastic "boos" and "he's behind yous," even he admitted it was well produced. Praise indeed from someone for who pantos are not "his thing."

At points, the show did seem to have very little, if any, ad libbing, but it's early days. There's no gunge and slosh scene as last year, and there is no panto dame, so perhaps it doesn't quite tick all the boxes for a traditional pantomime.

However, the song sheet scene, led by Muddles, was a real highlight as four youngsters were led on stage to perform to Music Man with a triangle, a drum, a tambourine and a trombone. One girl got a little carried away and started hitting herself on the head with her tambourine, which added to the hilarity.

Overall, if you were to judge how good a panto is by the loudness of the boos I would say the children (and grown ups) thoroughly enjoyed it.